I don't think she did as well as you think she did last night, but she did very well, and I may be wrong. I have worked in community service and I felt denegrated and insulted. She also made me want to get in her face and defend Obama, in part because he's been a good guy through all of this. But I wasn't the target demo.

My thing is, no matter how good she speaks, she can't win. By doing a 180 spin and plastering "Change" all over everything all of a sudden, the McCain campain is ceding turf to Obama. Let me repeat myself: The McCain camp is saying that Obama is right. The entire Republican party is marching to Barack Obama's beat right now. Union shout outs? Clinton applause lines? An appeal to the working class? What the heck kind of conservative convention is this anyway? The McCain campaign has just publicly admitted that the only way it can possibly win is by turning into the Obama campaign. Obama did it first and better. All he has to do is come out and say it. Something like this:

"So, the McCain campaign said yesterday that they're the party of..." (smile) "...change. To that I say, welcome aboard." (laugh). "The Republican Party has finally joined the movement we've been trying to share all these years. I'm glad they want to participate in my vision for the future. John, Sarah, thanks for your support."

This is a tricky question.

There is no doubt she has a well proportioned face, smooth looking skin, a bright smile, enthusiasm, intelligence (which IS sexy).

Me personally? She is not MY type. I do not like the 'plastic' dolly or cheerleader look.

I used that comment in my prior post because she DOES seem quite self possessed and KNOWS how much her looks help her with her agenda and maneuvering around old white guys to get her way.

And though she is not someone I would be into, one cannot deny many think she is cute, having been runner up in some pageant or something.

"The entire Republican party is marching to Barack Obama's beat right now."

Agreed!

And not only in the way that they are framing their arguments, but even in the way they're orchestrating their convention.

Best example? McCain's "surprise" appearance after Palin's speech.

Gee...I wonder where he got that idea...?

When Obama made an appearance after Biden's speech last week it was absolutely electrifying.

When McCain came out after Palin last night it looked pathetic and sad.

This is one of the most disgusting websites I've ever seen with letters from pure idiots. For those writing the majority of these, get on a plane and head to Russia. You'll certainly be happier in a socialist/communist country.

This is the USA. Get off your tush, turn off your TV, turn off your computer, get yourself educated and find something to do that's productive.

For those of us that actually lead productive lives, pay a ton of taxes and support your sorry butts, maybe you can do us a favor and flip enough burgers to afford the plane ticket out of here so we don't have to support you anymore. I'm sure you'll be happier where a government can cover you cradle-to-grave which is apparently what you seek. Sweden is another great option where unemployment is 70%, all living off the government, completely upside-down.

You folks just don't "get it". And you've been too lazy to do anything with yourselves other than scribe pathetic pieces. It's amazing you can even afford a computer and internet access, yet you probably got that from the government too.

Quit your barking, quit drinking the Obama and media Kool-Aid, get some sense of responsibility, read your history why we're the country we are and not Russia, look in the mirror and do something about yourselves. You're drunk on idiocy and seriously infected to the point you'll probably qualify for Americans With Disabilities benefits. Go sign up.

Being a supercilious cunt may qualify you to scream at 9 year olds at the ice rink and jab refs in the chest with your finger when your pre wifebeating asshole of a kid gets a bad call, but it doesn't make you qualified to stand up to world figures, some of whom are pretty fucking nasty and 10x more ruthless than you are, Sarah. Go back to Walrustown where you came from.

I feel weird commenting on Palin's looks since measuring a female politician's "abilities" by her looks is sexist, but I'm a woman so I'll get on with it. I think she looks great for a woman of 44 who has 5 kids, and who has given birth only four months ago. She looks to be in good physical shape, and she does have nice skin and a nice smile, although I do not care for that hairstyle.

But I really, really did not care for her sneering and sarcastic tone throughout her speech. It made me dislike her and I didn't have any real opinion on her personality until this speech (all I knew was the tabloid-like drama of her life, but her life story actually is pretty interesting). Her "jokes" were corny and nasty and I just came away not liking her as a person. I'm not voting for McCain either but I concede that he is probably a likable fellow. Her behavior just turned me off. Then again, that show wasn't for my benefit, I'm certain of that. The live crowd seemed to love it, but then they're already faithful.

What really stood out for me was a real lack of humility, which all the other candidates--McCain included--at least pay lip service to. She seemed conceited and self-satisfied and full of herself.

I'm a married working mother of roughly Palin's age. Recently, I applied for a mid-level position at a major nonprofit. During the 1 1/2 hour interview, the fact that I'm a soccer mom never arose. In fact, nothing about my personal life -- my marriage, children, family -- was discussed. Instead, we talked about my work experience, my approach to my job, my strengths and weaknesses, and what I would like to accomplish. This is the way it should be.

If experience as a soccer mom is irrelevant for this mid-level position, it is even less sigificant for the vice presidency of the United States. I realize that politicans routinely situate themselves in a family context. They say: this is who I am, this is the kind of character I'll bring to my public office. Fair enough. But Palin does something further. She claims that her family experience is actual qualification for the job. Vote for me BECAUSE I'm a hockey mom. Now, if she were applying for a job at a youth hockey league, this would make sense. But it makes no sense at all for the position she is running for. I find it quite insulting to my intelligence -- but more important, quite scary. Do we really want someone at the top levels of giovernment whose biggest claim to fame is that she is a hockey mom?